Feinstein endorses Harman

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, May 20, 1998

As expected, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein endorsed Rep. Jane Harman on Wednesday in the June 2 Democratic primary for governor, Harman's campaign announced.

Feinstein, whose decision to pass up a bid for the party's nomination in the hotly contested gubernatorial race prompted Harman to run, has filmed a TV commercial supporting the Los Angeles congresswoman that is scheduled to air starting Thursday.

"As a U.S. senator, it's difficult to endorse a candidate in a contested primary. But sometimes it's important to speak out," Feinstein says, according to a transcript of the ad released by Harman's campaign.

Feinstein's endorsement had been anticipated because she and Harman are political friends, and Feinstein has poor relationships with Harman's Democratic opponents, Lt. Gov. Gray Davis and businessman Al Checchi.

Feinstein was the target of an infamous hit-piece by Davis during the 1992 U.S. Senate race.

The desperate, end-of-campaign TV ad compared Feinstein to jailed tax cheat Leona Helmsley. California pollster Mervin Field, at the time, called it "one of the horrible examples of the depths to which a frantic candidate can go."

Feinstein, who publicly worried about another grueling and negative campaign, last month denounced Checchi's negative ads against Harman as despicable.

"I've worked on some tough issues with Jane Harman," Feinstein says in the endorsement ad. "She stood with me against the gun lobby to ban assault weapons. Having faced the rigors and demands of public office, I know that experience and integrity under fire count."

At an April 13 fund-raiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer, Feinstein was quoted as giving Harman some advice: "I just want to say to Jane Harman . . . hold your head up . . . go out there and run a positive campaign. I believe people in the state are now ready to respond to a positive campaign."

Many saw Feinstein as the party's savior during the most important election in a decade. Republicans have controlled the governor's office for 16 years. The next governor is likely to have enormous influence on redistricting, which in 2000 will redraw political boundaries for the state Legislature and House of Representatives.

A familiar face to nearly every voting Californian, Feinstein was the only person who beat Republican Attorney General Dan Lungren in polls around the time she announced her refusal to run.

Some political analysts say Feinstein's endorsement could help Harman, who runs a distant third to her Democratic rivals in the most recent polls.&lt;